Things got off to an ugly start with camp, Dez Bryant's arrest, 3 players Felix Jones, Andre Holmes and Brodney Pool fail the conditioning test and injuries slamming the interior offensive line.
Regardless, there have some good things and surprises with players taking advantage of opportunities for jobs on this team.
Let us begin with Barry Church, jersey #42, who is making a strong push for not only more time on defense but the starting safety job opposite Gerald Sensabaugh. He is an aggressive downhill safety who can make the hard hit to break up a pass, he's been making plays in coverage not being cautious and finishing the play. Do keep in mind that Church needs to continue his play into the preseason, stay healthy and if he does that, it is going to take Pool to make some excellent plays to knock him off that starting job. That is the opinion of sports writers coming out of camp but what the Cowboys front office thinks may be different.
Dallas' defense may not be better but they will have depth along the line and linebacker group. They appear to have a player poised for a breakout season, lineman Sean Lissemore #95 who has really been making plays with the pads on especially against the run, occassionally giving some rush on the passer. Josh Brent, #92, is also helping to fill the hole at nose tackle with Jay Ratliff still not practicing. Brent has always had strength but struggled to find the ball and disengage to make plays on the run. He has showed that in camp this year but also shown last year ability to hold versus a double team at the nose freeing up the linebackers.
Speaking of those backers, the battle between Bruce Carter and Dan Connor has been a draw but that is not a bad thing. Both players have shown real good things, Carter is going to be a threat as a blitzer and in coverage. Connor has the toughness and strength to fill the hole and make lots of tackles in the running game. Alongside Sean lee, either one of these players are going to help this team with what they do and going to get a lot of snaps regardless of who wins the starting job.
Injuries have taken a toll on the inside offensive line, Nate Livings, Mackeny Bernadeau, Bill Nagy and kevin Kowalski all not practicing which is testing a position that was weak even with all hands on deck. It has given more much needed reps to David Arkin and Ron Leary but they need more bodies to make it through the drills and preseason games. Jason Brown is still available on the free agent wire, former Rams lineman who has good starting center experience, better vs the pass than run blocking. I would take Brown over Phil Costa right now in a heartbeat.
The 3rd receiver job remains up in the air but some leaders have emerged for the job. Top of the list includes second year player Raymond Radway who made plays last preseason until suffering a leg injury at the end of the last preseason game to end his season. He has the athleticism and made plays in camp to go along with what he did last season, Dallas likes his ability to be able to make plays from the slot and on the outside which separates him from Cole Beasley and Andre Holmes.
The opening preseason game is August 13th vs the Oakland Raiders and the Cowboys will want to find some solutions to these camp issues but also stay healthy, most important.
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